Microsoft will be ending support for Office 2013 at the end of February. Are you ready to make the transition to feature-rich Office 2016?

Microsoft has made an announcement to inform Office 365 users that support will no longer be offered for the 2013 version of the software. The last day of support from the company for Office 2013 will be February 28, 2017.

The announcement was made to help ensure all users of this suite are able to get the very most out of the package in their business. As Microsoft moves away from this product, they will instead be promoting the Office 2016 product suite.

If your enterprise is still using Office 2013, there are some key points to be aware of as this change takes effect:

• Feature updates for Office 2013 will no longer be released by the Microsoft company.
• Language packs and client applications will cease to be available for Office 365 via the Microsoft Admin Center and self-service portal.
• The focus of the Microsoft company will be on supporting and upgrading the 2016 version of Office going forward.

These end-of-support changes apply to the following versions and subscriptions of Microsoft Office:

• Office 365 Pro Plus
• Business
• Small Business Premium
• Visio Pro
• Project Pro

Users should be aware that since Office 2016 doesn’t offer support for Microsoft Exchange Servers dated from 2007 or before, businesses still using these applications will have to make upgrades to their mail servers as well.

Critical security updates for the Microsoft Office 2013 suite of products will extend longer than the support deadline – to April 10, 2018. However, enterprises using Office 2013 should strongly consider making a move to Office 2016 to ensure ongoing access to support. Making the upgrade will also allow your business to take advantage of the very latest in the cutting-edge productivity features that have been added by Microsoft to Office 2016.

Numerous Compelling Reasons to Make the Move to Office 2016

With the latest versions of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel in Office 2016, users are now able to look up online information quickly and easily right from the document interface. Users and staff members also have access to more advanced and intuitive collaborative features including Office 365 Planner, Delve, Skype integrations, and more.

Enterprises planning to use the end-of-support deadline as an opportunity to upgrade should be aware of the following minimum system requirements for Office 2016:

• Windows 7 OS, or above
• At least 2GB RAM
• 1280 x 800 or better screen resolution
• A 1 GHz or higher processor
• A minimum 3 GB of disk space available

To make the transition smoother for businesses opting to make a move, Microsoft will be offering a service they are calling FastTrack migration. FastTrack allows companies to make the switch to the more feature-rich version of Office 2016 more quickly.

However, you can make a move even more effortless by partnering with an experienced pro to help with the transition. If your enterprise is ready to upgrade to Office 2016, let {company} of {city} assist you. We offer a range of services to help ensure Office 365 is always current and running smoothly. Contact us at {phone}, or send us an email at {email}.

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Cloud computing has been a hot topic in the world of technology for a while now, and with good reason. The cloud offers a cost-effective alternative for smaller businesses looking to take advantage of new technology and can improve the way current technology operates. But when a network of IoT (Internet of Things) gadgets like routers, DVRs, and closed-circuit TVs can take down hardened, well-provisioned Internet giants like Twitter, Spotify, and Amazon – as happened last October – you’ve got to think twice before moving your data to the cloud.

Yes, a move to the cloud can yield significant payoffs regarding cost savings, increased efficiency, greater flexibility, better collaboration for your workforce, and more. Yet there is a dark side. It would be naive to think otherwise. Your choices about whether and how to use cloud technology in your network merit serious consideration.

So, just what is “the cloud”?

Instead of always buying new equipment and software, cloud computing allows you to pay for only what you need. Just as with a utility company, you get software and storage on a monthly basis, with no long-term contracts. Chances are, most of the software you now use is cloud-based. You simply access it on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Similarly, you can store data in the cloud, where it can be easily accessed when you need it. This reduces the need to buy and manage your own backup gear and software, thus reducing overhead. Yet, as with any major decision, it’s critical to be aware of both the benefits and pitfalls of putting your company’s data in the cloud.

The Pros

There are three significant advantages offered by cloud computing:

1. Flexibility. Scaling up or down can be done without major investment or leaving excess capacity idle. It also enables your entire workforce to get more done, where and when they need to.
2. Collaboration. With data and software in a shared cloud environment, staff can collaborate from anywhere. Everything from HR to accounting, and from operations to sales and customer relations, can be managed from diverse and mobile environments, giving your team greater power to collaborate effectively.
3. Disaster Recovery. Typically, data stored in the cloud can be easily retrieved in the event of a catastrophe. It also augments local backup and recovery systems, adding protective redundancy.

The Cons

While the cloud offers obvious benefits, it also increases your company’s potential “attack surface” for cyber criminals. By spreading your communications and access to data beyond a safe “firewall,” your network is far more exposed to a whole bevy of security concerns. Many of them can be addressed with these three best practices:

1. Social Engineering Awareness. Whether you go cloud or local, the weakest link in your network is not in your equipment or software; it’s the people who use them. Cyber criminals are aware of this fact. And you can count on them to come up with an endless variety of ways to exploit it. One day it’s a phone call ostensibly from your IT department requesting sensitive data, the next it’s an e-mail that looks official but contains malicious links. Make sure your employees are aware of and trained to deal with these vulnerabilities.
2. Password Security and Activity Monitoring. Maintaining login security is absolutely critical anytime you’re in a cloud environment. Train your staff on how to create secure passwords, and implement two-factor authentication whenever possible. Take advantage of monitoring tools that can alert you to suspicious logins, unauthorized file transfers, and other potentially damaging activity.
3. Antimalware/Antivirus Solutions. The malicious software allows criminals to obtain user data, security credentials, and sensitive information without the knowledge of the user. Not only that, some purported antimalware software on the market (like Mackeeper) is actually malware in disguise. Keep verifiable antimalware software in place throughout your network at all times, and train your employees on how to work with it.

Want to learn more about the ways the cloud can benefit your business? Contact us at help@creativetechs.com or 206-682-4315. We’re the Mac IT professionals businesses trust.